Dean Hendrickson’s Photos – Fire Support Base Hill 4-11

Dean Hendrickson's Photos

Dean Hendrickson served as an RTO in C Company, 3rd Platoon for most of his tour of duty from July 69 to July 70. Near the end of his tour, Dean worked in the Awards section of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry at LZ Bronco in Duc Pho. Dean worked mostly on Arcoms, Bronze Stars, and Air Medals, but he and the Awards team helped the Section Chief Ron Mageors, “Tex,” put the final touches on David Winder’s nominaton for the Medal of Honor.

Here are the photos that Dean took during his tour in Vietnam:

Dean Hendrickson.

FSB Hill 4-11 during the monsoon season. C Company was moving off the hill at sundown for another 30 day stint in the bush. This picture is looking to the southwest where there was another small knoll within the perimeter. If you reversed direction here, you would walk back to the east along the bunker line until you got to the mess hall, then turn north to go up the main hill to TOC, artillery, and the chopper pad.

Olivia Helaire, “Helix”, a rifleman from C Company, who was in country most of 1970.

John Alves, “Tunnel Rat”, coming out of a tunnel

Headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry at LZ Bronco, Duc Pho.

This is Dean Hendrickson and the 3rd Platoon of Charlie Company set up in the flat lands near Hill 4-11.

Here is a typical layout of the medals awarded during a 3rd of the 1st Award Ceremony: 5 Bronze Stars w/V Device, 8 ARCOMs w/V Device, and 6 Purple Hearts. The picture was taken during the time Dean worked in HHC Awards Section from March to July of 1970.

This looks like a view from the battalion’s rear area at LZ Bronco and Montezuma. Does anyone recognize the scene

Here is one of the few “modern” structures Dean saw while out in the field.

This is the “business end” of 3rd Platoon’s bunker on Hill 4-11. Dean’s platoon was outside working on the concertina wire when this shot was taken.

This picture was taken shortly after Charlie Company came back to Hill 4-11 after 30 days in the bush. It was time to roll up the pants legs and let the feet dry out, refill M-16 magazines, and drink a few warm ones. This picture was taken in same spot as LT Jim Wood’s close up. LT Wood came in a few days after Dean left in February. The PRC-25 radio in the background of LT Wood’s photo was probably the same one Dean carried. Notice the “foo” gas cannister in background.

Here is the 3rd Platoon of Charlie Company while on patrol. Dean’s squad leader, SGT Doug Koning, was killed in an ambush February 2, 1970. Dean was his RTO for 4 months.

This is the “Rocket Pocket Inn,” the Enlisted Men’s Club for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry at LZ Bronco.

Dean Hendrickson's Photos

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